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Boy dies after being shot in Portsmouth neighborhood

The boy, who was shot in the upper body, was rushed to the hospital, where he later died.

A 12-year-old boy who was shot Friday morning has died.

Police Dispatch tells 13News Now the call of the shooting came in around 10:49 a.m. 

Officers were sent to the 50 block of Lexington Drive, where the boy was found with a gunshot wound to his upper body. He was rushed to the hospital, where he later died. According to police, the incident was not a random act of violence. 

13NewsNow spoke with a woman who says the victim was "like a family member."

"I mean, it hurts me. It saddens me because I lost my grandchild at the beginning of the year," said Barbara Whitfield. "This is just terrifying. Every day you look and a child is being shot. Put them [guns] down."

"It messes families up," said Whitfield. "Here it is Christmas time and look, look what happened. Put these guns down."

On Sunday, Portsmouth School Board member De'Andre Barnes posted on Facebook that the victim was his cousin.

"As a city, we have to make things easier for those who have their stuff together and that want to make a difference for our kids. We have to come together as elected officials and stop cliquing up. It's not about us, it's about them and we have to realize that," Barnes wrote.

There is no word on any possible suspects at this time.

If you have any information about this shooting, you are asked to call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.

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